Can opener and spout



April 5, 395% A. M. LYON ET AL 2,505,585

CAN OPENER AND SPOUT Filed March 5. 1946 A2001, M. Lyon, DomzZd/L. 66055 I ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25, 1950 STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER AND SPOUT Alan M. Lyon, New Haven, and Donald L. Scott, Devon, Conn.

This invention relates to combined can openers and pouring spouts.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, small and compact, easy-to-operate combination can opener and pouring spout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination device as above outlined, which is extremely easy to clean.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener and pouring spout as above which is reliable in operation, and is very economical to manufacture.

These and other objects are accomplished, in the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, by the provision of a molded elongate tubular body having rigidly secured at one end a hook for engagement with the bead at the edge of a can, and having adjacent the said hook a spike so shaped and positioned that it will pierce the end of the can when the body is swung upward about the bead while the latter is engaged by the hook.

Thus, the operation of puncturing the can may be quickly and conveniently carried out, since it involves merely applying the hook to the can edge so that the bead thereof is engaged, and then swinging the body of the device upward and inward over the can, using the hook and bead as a fulcrum. The spike of the device is of short length as compared with the body length, and as a result a considerable favorable leverage is obtained. Also, the body acts as a convenient handle during the piercing operation, and consequently, since a firm hold may be had on the body and since a substantial leverage is provided, the operation of piercing the end of the can may be easily accomplished, without the expenditure of any considerable force.

The hook-carrying end of the body is provided with spring detents so that at the termination of the piercing movement of the body the latter will be automatically held in pouring position over the pierced opening in the can end. The body also has resilient gasket means which automatically seals the hook-carrying end thereof to the can along an area surrounding the pierced opening, when the body is in pouring position, the seal effectually preventing leakage of the contents of the can during the pouring operation. Thus the device is extremely convenient to use.

The tubular body of the device is relatively short, and is of a convenient, small diameter to enable it to be readily gripped in the hand, and

since the hook and spike are of small size, the

entire device is extremely compact and small, not requiring any considerable space in storage.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the tubular body is molded of 2 plastic material, and the hook and spike are formed as part of a single metal stamping in the form of a thimble which is incorporated and embedded in the body at the time of the molding thereof. The sealing means comprises a simple rubber ring which is carried by a thimble at the end of the molded body, and the detent means comprises a pair of leaf springs mounted in the thimble and embedded in the body during the molding of the latter. Thus a novel and unique, advantageous arrangement of plastic and metal components is provided. The parts of the device are thus few in number and of simple and sturdy construction, so that manufacture may be carried out very economically without sacrificing reliable, convenient operation and long useful life.

Due to its simplicity, the device may be quickly and conveniently cleaned after each use, either by merely rinsing it in water, or else by washing and cleaning it with a brush which may be passed through the thimble and molded body without difficulty.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side view of the can opening and pouring device of this invention, shown as being applied to a can which latter is illustrated in fra mentary section.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device after the end of the can has been pierced, the device being automatically held in position for pouring.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View of the device along line 3-3, looking in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2, the can being again shown in fragmentary section.

Fig. 4 is an axial section of the device on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the device.

The combined can opener and pouring spout, as constructed in the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, comprises a molded plastic, elongate tubular body id having a slightly curved shape longitudinally, the body having a bore I i and being formed at one end IE to function as a spout.

According to the invention the body In carries at its other end l3 and Within the bore I 6 thereof a metal stamping M comprising a tubular body portion or thimble 15 having a curled arm or hook it lanced outwardly therefrom, and having a flat projection or spike ii' extending axially from the outer end thereof.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. i, the body portion or thimble l5 and hook iii are molded and embedded in the end it of the body It so as to form a rigid unitary device therewith. The end l8 of the spike IT is made pointed, and is bent at u? a slight angle as shown to facilitate its piercing and cutting the end of a can.

Referring to Fig. 1, the hook it and spike ll are so shaped and located that when the hook is applied tozacan 5.9 it may engage tile bead 2d at the edge of the can, with the spike extending across the end El of the can. Thus when the body I!) is grasped and swung upward, iulcruming about the bead 2d, the tip iiiof the'spike i? will pierce the end 2! of the can, and as the movement of the handle it is=-ccntlnued, spike will cut an opening, shown at (Fig. 2) in the can end.

Preferably, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the body IE3 of the device is cut away at 23 to provide substantial clearance for the bead 2%) of the can during the piercing -.op,eration.

For :thepurpose of .automaticaliy holding Tbody itjn-theroperative or pouring position. s1 wn inrFig. 2, thethimble has a pair of opposite, bifurcatedprojectionsY22d extending frothe end, :the said projections accommodating 9 ends of wire 101' leaf springs 25. The springs through apertures .26 in the thimble a end portions :2? ofithe springs are the end portion 13 of the body :springs fi e-are preferablylocated in th 15 prior to themolding-of the body =rigidly=and permanently secured in place molding operation.

:site out edges of the opening 22 I 0 thereby automatically maintaining the spout the operative or pouring position upon the completion of the piercingmovement.

In order to seal the end portion it of the body It] to the end 2i of a canand prevent'leakage, a rubber sleeve .28 is provided, carried on the .thirnble i5,;the.edge'29 oi the sleeve being positionediforisealingengagement with the end of the can as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably the edge portiontil oithe body it '(Fig. .4) overli s a part or" rthe =rubber sleeve 28 to provide reinforcement for the latter.

It will thus be seen that the can opener and :pouring device of the :present invention. is cornpact'and small :in size, and has few parts all of which are of simple and'sturdy structure. The assembly ofthe'partsis involved in the melding of the body it), so that after the molding, the only additionalassembly operation is the applying of therubber sleeve 29. Thus, due to the unique arrangement of the metal and plastic :components of the device of this invention, it may .befabricated very economically.

The handle it is of a size to be easily gripped inthehand, and dueto the advantageous lever age provided by the short length of the s as compared tothe handle length, the op .of piercing the end of thecan may caried out with very littleforce, and without difficulty.

Referring to. Fig. 2, when the device in position it rgpouring, it is located closely adjacent the bead and edge of the can "so that prar aliy ail of the contents of the latter may be e narged through the spout without any substantial quan- -tity remaining.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions "of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

comprising a thimbleto pierce the can end when the hook is engaged withthe said bead and the said body and spike are swung about the bead; detent means carried by the thimble and body for engaging the piercedopening and holding the thimblecarrying end of the body over the pierced opening'the can end upon completion of the piercing movement of the body; and means carried by the 'thinible for :sealing "the' thimble-carrying rr of the body to the can :and along :an area unding the saidpierced opening.

2. A combined can opener and pouring :spout moided elongate tubular body pad at one end to gconstitutea spout; ametal 'tlumifllt'z embedded-and molded inthe other of the body, the said thimble havingehook-exebead at the edge of acan, and having spike continuing irom the :end of fthefthll'llblfl and projecting from the end of thebody'adiacent the hoolcto'pierce'the can endwhenthethook is engaged with said bead and thesaid body and spike are swung about the ,detent means carried byjthethimble and'body'for holdth. nine-carrying end of :the body over the pierced opening 'in the can end upon -.ccm-

pletion of the piercing vmovement of the body; and means carried by the "thimble for sealing the thimble'-carrying end of the .body to the can end aiong an area surrounding the said pierced opening.

3. A combined ;can opener and pouring spout comprising a molded plastic elongate tubular body shaped atone end :to constitute a spout;

a .metal thimble embedded and molded in the other end of the body, "the said thimbiehaving a hook interlocked'withsand passing through the body "for engaging the bead at the edge of a can, and havingaspike adjacent the hook, the said "spike being shaped and located to pierce the can end when the hook is engaged with the said and thesaid body and spike are swung about the bead; leaf spring means carried by the thimble and :having'portionsembedded and molded in the body,'the said spring eans'being shaped to engage the edge portions, the pier ed opening in the can and holdthe saidendoi the body over the opening upon -completion of the piercing movement of the body; and a rubber washer carried by the thimble for sealing the latter and the thimble carrying end of the body to the can end along an area .surroundingthe said pierced opening.

4. A combined can opener and pouringspout comprising a molded plastic elongate tubular body shaped at one 'end to constitute a spout; a metal thimble embedded and moided the other end of the'body,'the said thimbiehaving oppositely located bifurcated extensions at its outer'end, having ahook'for engaging the at the edge 01 a can, andhaving a adjacent the hook, the said spike'being shaped and loca d to pierce the can end when the hook is with the said bead and the said body and spike are swung about the bead; apair of leaf springs carried by thethimble and having portions embedded-and moldedin-thebody, the said springs 6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Gay Mar. 8, 1921 Blomgren Dec. 10, 1935 Reed Aug. 10, 1937 Cary Nov. 7, 1939 McManus et a1 May 30, 1939 

